City Council — October 10, 2022

Consent agenda

• Approved on consent Item 11A1 Consent Ordinance

  Ordinance 4439: update rules on electioneering near polling places

  This ordinance amends Chapter 13 of the city's Code of Ordinances to update definitions of "electioneering" and "voting period," revise existing rules on electioneering activities near polling locations, add three new prohibited activities (subsections 9, 10, and 11), and create a new administration section.

  The changes clarify and expand what conduct is prohibited near polling places, which affects candidates, campaign volunteers, and voters in Richardson.

  • Elections & charter
• Approved on consent Item 11A2 Consent Ordinance

  Ordinance 4440: require electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems to be elevated 1 foot above flood level

  This ordinance amends Chapter 9 (Floodplain Management) of the city's Code of Ordinances to require that electrical, plumbing, and mechanical improvements to structures in flood hazard areas be elevated at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.

  The stricter elevation requirement helps protect homes and businesses from flood damage, and may affect the cost of remodeling or repairing properties in flood-prone areas.

  • Drainage & flooding

Public hearings

• Approved Public hearing Item 9 Zoning

  Public hearing: amend mixed-use development plan at W. Spring Valley Rd. and S. Sherman St. (ZF 22-12)

  A developer wants to amend an approved special development plan for a 3.78-acre site at the southeast corner of W. Spring Valley Road and S. Sherman Street. The site is zoned Main Street/Central Expressway PD Planned Development (Creative Corporate Sub-District) and is planned for a 4-story mixed-use building with apartment units, live/work units, and co-working space. The amendment would allow fewer parking spaces than currently required.

  The outcome affects how much housing and flexible workspace is built in this mixed-use corridor and how much parking will be available on-site.

  • Rezoning
  • Housing
  View on Zoning Watch
• Approved Public hearing Item 10 Zoning

  Public hearing: special permit for outdoor smoking patio at 925 Abrams Rd. (ZF 22-10)

  A restaurant at 925 Abrams Road (northeast corner of Abrams Road and E. Buckingham Road) is requesting a special permit to operate a smoking establishment limited to an outdoor patio. The 1.04-acre site is zoned 'R' Retail.

  Granting the permit would allow patrons to smoke on the restaurant's outdoor patio, which may affect neighbors and nearby businesses.

  • Special permit
  View on Zoning Watch

Action items

• Approved Item 8 Zoning

  Variance request to allow 64 fewer parking spaces at 1300 E. Belt Line Rd.

  A property owner at 1300 E. Belt Line Road is asking to operate a 29,321-square-foot health club inside an approximately 63,000-square-foot building with 64 fewer parking spaces than the zoning code requires. Council must decide whether to grant that parking reduction.

  Approving the variance would let a health club open at this location with less parking than the code mandates, which could affect traffic and parking availability nearby.

  • Variances & plats
  • Zoning code

Discussion

• Discussed Item 5 Discussion

  Discussion: Oncor 2022 rate request

  Council will review and discuss a rate request submitted by Oncor, the electric utility that serves Richardson, in 2022.

  If Oncor's rate request is approved, Richardson residents and businesses could see changes in their electric bills.

  • Franchise utilities
  • Fees & rates
• Discussed Item 6 Discussion

  Discussion: renewal of the Code of Ethics ordinance

  Council will review and discuss renewing the city's Code of Ethics ordinance.

  The Code of Ethics sets the conduct standards that govern elected officials and city staff, so its renewal affects public accountability.

  • Elections & charter
• Discussed Item 7 Discussion

  Pre-meeting discussion of items on tonight's agenda

  Council members may ask questions or discuss any items appearing on tonight's meeting agenda before formal action is taken.